Krone Trailer and Trailer Dynamics are winners of the European Transport Prize for Sustainability 2026 in the ‘Trailers and Superstructures’ category. The award was given for the jointly developed eTrailer, an electrically powered semi-trailer that makes road freight transport significantly more CO₂-efficient.
‘This award confirms our conviction that sustainability and economic efficiency can go hand in hand,’ says Dr Stefan Binnewies, member of the Executive Board of Krone Holding. ‘The eTrailer is an important milestone on the road to climate-neutral freight transport in Europe.’
With its independent electric drive system, the eTrailer supports the tractor unit with traction as needed – regardless of whether it is powered by diesel or electricity. This enables the system to significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions: in diesel mode, fuel consumption is reduced by around 40 per cent, with a simultaneous reduction in CO₂ emissions. In combination with a battery-electric tractor unit, the eTrailer enables fully electric ranges of over 600 kilometres without the need for charging en route.
For transport companies, this means lower operating costs, less dependence on fossil fuels and greater planning reliability in fleet deployment.
Technology with vision
At the heart of the system is intelligent energy management with Kingpin technology, a modular battery system with up to 551 kWh and the ‘Predictive Drivetrain Control’ software, which enables predictive, efficient control of the drive forces.
With 20 units already approved for practical use in the pre-series run, the eTrailer is already proving its suitability for everyday use and its enormous potential for climate-friendly and economically viable logistics.
